Feds: Man faces smuggling charges after alleged high-speed pursuit

MCALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A 22-year-old was arrested for allegedly conspiring to transport migrants, federal authorities announced.

Luis Ruiz-Valadez was taken into federal custody Wednesday and made his initial appearance before a judge this morning.

According to the release from the United States Attorney’s Office, Ruiz-Valadez was allegedly waiting in a red Ford F-150 pick-up truck on April 18 when authorities observed several people cross the border wall near Hidalgo and run to a nearby parking lot.

The charges allege that Ruiz-Valadez fled the scene at a high rate of speed and failed to yield when law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop for speeding. Throughout the high-speed pursuit, they observed three people laying in the bed of the truck, according to a criminal complaint.